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Gambling on golfers a sign you may need some help

Wednesday March 8, 2006 | 11:14:07 219 words, 1910 views  

Coming across the betting odds for golf’s biggest upcoming events, I was struck full force with one thought: “People actually bet on golf?”

Basically it was a press release with the Hey-look-at-me headline of something like “Masters, Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Ryder Cup and Britney Spears Sex Scene odds!” It was for one of those numerous sports betting sites, which I believe was dudeyourebettingontheinternetyoureallydohaveaproblem.com

In case you’re interested, Tiger is a 5-2 favorite to win the Masters, Europe is slightly favored to win the Ryder Cup and the odds on Michelle Wie winning at least one major this year are set at 9-5, with odds of her going without a major at 1-2.

Regardless of the intricate mathematical equations that must be worked through to get these odds, I am still perplexed they are used at all. Because, obviously, they are used. Because the whole “these odds are only posted for entertainment purposes” line is the “your check is in the mail” of the sports betting industry. Only people who bet find odds entertaining.

I can understand a lot of different sports betting. Football, boxing? Perfect for a wager. But golf? A sport where a fan sneezing can completely alter the course of events?

I just don’t understand it. But I am wondering if Baldwin will jump on those 1-2 odds.

–WKW

Permalink 9 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: ToddCommish [Visitor]
Jen Mario should put up $100 and Chris Baldwin should put up $200 on opposite sides of the Michelle Wie bet. Winner donates the money to charity.
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-08 @ 12:53
Comment from: seedy [Visitor] · http://www.take624.com
As one of 1000s, nay 10,000s who regularly bet on golf, many of whom do it professionally your comments amaze me.

Get your head out of the bunker!

Golf betting is big business.
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-09 @ 04:23
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Never have bet on-line, but have plopped down a few shillings in betting parlors in Las Vegas & Scotland. And then there are the private calcuttas & fantasy leagues. Can make a tournament finish quite exciting when you have a personal stake in the outcome.
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-09 @ 08:59
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Well, you all could have bet on the WBC baseball game yesterday.
---
Headline: Games at WBC continue to amaze as Canada stuns United States 8-6
---Seems that Canada whupped your boys.
Mind you, i'm willing to bet the canucks were as amazed as anyone.

As everyone says, there ain't no sure bet.
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-09 @ 13:59
Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
Anyone want to wager on this? and what are the odds given, William?

"Four-time winner Doug Swingley kept his lead Thursday halfway through the Iditarod, a trek of more than 1,770 kilometres from Anchorage to Nome. "
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-09 @ 14:03
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] · http://Alex
seedy, I've made a few wagers on golf on occasions in Nevada. (never won anything). I'll take you at your word that some people gamble on golf as a profession but I don't see how it's possible. It seems to me that the edge, the "vigorish", the "juice", would be too much to overcome. According to my arithmetic, a punter is fighting a house edge of between 15 and 30 percent on all bets and even more on the "props." Even betting on a guy like Woods to win any tournament is a losing situation over a season. Woods has a winning percentage of about 25 percent of the events he's played. The true odds should be 3 to 1 for him to win. But the odds quoted on him are usually 5 to 2 or even 2 to 1. My son-in-law made small bets on Tiger on the internet in every event that there was a line on him. He was a loser for the year since he never won enough to offset his losses even though Woods won six times. His "paper" losses on imaginary bets on Tiger in the fictitious "matchups" were even worse. We figure the juice on those wagers at 30 percent. He is convinced that the way to conclude one's wagering on golf with a small fortune, is to start with a LARGE fortune.I tend to agree with him, but if you or anyone you know has devised a way to successfully battle those odds, you have my admiration and more power to you.
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-10 @ 09:11
Comment from: Ju-Lu [Visitor]
Shanks, I'm all OVER it! Your mention of the calcutta reminds me of our options we had with "Teddy" at the Masters....now how COOL was that?
Seldom has the thrill of watching one
of our guys HIT HIMSELF in the bunker and still almost win....FFS! Or have
Tiger struggle the ONE time we needed
him there and it cost us about $75,000......But that's why they made
curse words and alcohol..!!!
PermalinkPermalink 2006-03-13 @ 16:44
Comment from: afzal [Visitor] · http://linesmaker.com/
Hundreds of sports betting options. LinesMaker Sportsbook has a rock solid reputation and 24/7 customer support.Get you NFL odds and start betting. Great betting promos and gambling options.
PermalinkPermalink 2007-01-23 @ 00:06
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PermalinkPermalink 2007-01-23 @ 00:07

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William K. Wolfrum William K. Wolfrum

a WorldGolf.com Blog

WorldGolf.com's William K. Wolfrum blogs about everything in the world of golf and travel, including Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Tiger Woods and other PGA and LPGA headlines. Plus, he offers the humorous and obscure in news, politics and pop culture.